Apparatus for forming shoe shanks



April 21, 1953 w. J. REICHENEDER ET AL 2,535,264

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHOE SHANKS Filed Sept. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. WILLIAM JOSEPH REICHENEDER BY GEORGE W. MILLER! WALTER M. WOLF W L HW Arm/ways April 21, 1953 V w. J. REICHENEDER ETAL 1 2,635,264

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHOE SHANKS Filed Sept. 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTORS. WILLIAM JOSEPH REICHENEDER BY G's-zones W. MILLER WALTER M WOLF (1.2 M M Armmw Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHOE SHANKS William Joseph Reicheneder and George W. Miller, St. Louis, and Walter M. Wolf, St. Louis County, Mo., assignors to Convy Heel Covering 00., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 13, 1950, Serial No. 184,616

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to shoe manufacture and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for forming shoe shanks.

Heretofore, the customary practice in the shoe industry for forming shanks of fibrous material and the like has been to die-out shank blanks from superimposed sheets of fiber board and related material by means of a clicking machine. This operation entails periodic stacking of the sheets before operation of the machine and manipulation of the die prior to each stroke of the ram to assure reasonably economic utilization of the stock. Upon completion of this punching operation the blanks must then be transported to askiving machine to which each is individually fed for receiving a bevel on its forward margin. It will thus be seen that multiple handling of the stocks and blanks is required in the performance of this method with a consequent relativelyhigh cost per unit because of the inherent limitation upon the number of shanks which may be produced in any one working period.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for forming shoe shanks which incorporates means for serving board stock into strips of desired widths, means for advancing the strip stock to a skiving unit for beveling one margin thereof, and means for progressing the beveled strip stock to a punch press in timed relation to the operation of the press for punching out the maximum number of shanks from the strip.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type stated which is durable and reliable in usage;' contains adjusting means to permit production of shanks of various lengths and thicknesses; and the operation of which requires the services of a limited number of relatively unskilled personnel.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (three sheets) Figure lis a front view of a machine for forming shank blanks constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the machine;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 'l'! of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse along line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a transverse along line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along line l0---! 0 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line H--ll of Figure 10'; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a formed shank.

The method of this invention for forming shoe shanks comprises cutting single sheets of fiber board or related le-ather-simulative material into strips having widths which are substantially equivalent to the length of the shanks to be formed. The strips are then skived along "one longitudinal margin thereof at any desired angle. The beveled strips may then be fed to a suitable type press for dieing-out shanks therefrom. The shanks thus punched are complete and ready for use since the requisite bevel has been cut during the skiving operation. As will be seen, the practice of this method does not require handling of the formed shanks other than to pack same for ultimate transportation to a shoe assembly point. There is total elimination of the laborious and time-consuming step of feeding individual shank blanks to a skiving machine since the skiving operation herein has been accomplished in a facile manner upon the strip stock. Furthermore, the strip cutting operation prevents untoward waste of material.

Although the method taught herein may be performed by various types of apparatuaas well as, if necessary, by a hand-wielded knife, the drawings illustrate a. preferred type of apparatus for shoe shank production according to the present method. Referring to the various figures in detail by reference characters, A designates sectional view taken sectional view taken a shoe shank forming machine comprising a feeding table 13 having legs I and a rectangular top 2 dimensioned for conveniently supporting a sheet of fiber board C and the like. Upstanding from the rearward margin of the top 2 is a flange 3 having an integrally formed forwardly projecting, relatively short plate-like member 4 in elevated, parallel relation to the table top 2 to serve as a depressant upon any undulations or other irregularities in the surface of the board C caused by warping or similar causes.

Adjacent the feeding table 13 and abutting thereagainst at one of its ends is a relatively elongated central frame section D having leg members 5 and vertically spaced, parallel lower.

and upper plates 6, I, respectively, secured at their corners, as by welding, to thelegsll, the

said upper plate I being in lowered relation. to the top 2 of the feeding tableB.

Bolted to the upper faceofthezplate: I at the: end thereof adjacent the feeding-stable: B. isiai generally rectangular frameB of a cutter unitE',

the frame 8 having an opening 9' in its-forwardly presented lateral wall (see Figure 4). Extend.- ing transversely acrossthe frame 8, between andjournaled. in the lateral walls thereof, above andbelow the opening 9.is-a.pair of parallel shafts I0, Il,.respective1y, having their. rearward ends projecting, through the rearward lateral wallof the frame 8.- Mounted on the projecting endofthe shaft I Elisa. pinion I2 in meshing engagement with agear I3, keyed or otherwise. engaged upon the. projecting. end. of the shaft II. outwardly spaced from-the gear I3.on the-.shaftJ I isasprocket wheel I 4 .drivingly connected by a chain. l5.trained;thereaboutto driving... means which will be. described .in .detail hereinafter.

Adjustably mounted, ,as by a set screw, .substantially centrally upon the shaft IB is a rotary cutter I Behaving its lower facial portion engaged against the upper portionpf a1 similanrotary cutter, I'I movably secured upon .theshaft: I I.

Spaced from the cutter IB-on either side thereof andsuitably mounted on the shaft Ill are holddown rollers I8, I9, for path-defining relation.- shi-pwithsimilar type-.rollers2fl, 2I, mounted on. :the, lower :shaft I I, respectively laterally outwardl-y, of. the.- rollers- I8, I9, .the path. formed therebybeing aligned; withthe opening 9. and thehupper'surface of the top 2- of the. feeding table.,B:for receiving'jboard stockCas same ;is fedtothe; cutter unit E for.severingoperation. Asrtheqdistance between the cutters I6, I1, and the, earward-- lateral wall ,of the 1 frame: 8- dc:- termineathe widthof the strip to. beqcut, the lateraladjustability of the cutters I6, I'I, readily adaptsthe cutter unitE for providing strips of selected widths to permit the :machine A- to produce shanks. of an extensive range of lengths. During strip cutting operation the excess'porvtion of theboard C will proceed through the opening 9 for easy manual removal. In the economical performance of the operation of the machineA, it is preferable that the width of the Striped cut approximate as closely as possible thelength of theashan-k to be formed therefrom so that waste will beat a minimum. As'will be seen in .Figures-4-.-and 5, a pair of wire-like members -2I' are associated with thecutter unit E y for guarding, against inexpedient movement ofjtherstock C. belowthe path through the cutter unit E:

Disposed-in elevated and parallel relation to theupper. plate. 1 of the frame section. .1). is an elongated conveyor plate 22, the upper surface of which is aligned with the path through the cutter E and the upper surface of the top 2 of the feeding table B for receiving strip sections C. Said conveyor plate 22 extends from immediately adjacent the cutter E to a point in alignment with the opposite end margin of the plate I, and is supported along its under face upon L-shaped support members 22. Rigidly secured to said members 22', at opposite sides of the conveyor plate 22 adjacent the frame 8 of the-cutterrE; are the-.upper ends of a pair of aligned uprights 23 suitably secured, as by bolts, at their lower ends to the plate I. At its opposite end the conveyor plate 22 is upheld by a pair of channel-shaped, inwardly opening post members 24, 24, bolted to the support members 22. and. the plate and which roject upwardly beyond. the-tconveyor plate 22. Across the up- :pervend-of each of the post members 24, 24, is

me apart ofithe'drive-means hereinafter fully setforth... Disposed upon the shaft 28 is a: feed roller.3I extendin between the inner. margins of the'posts26, 26', and havingitsupper portion protruding through a transverse slot 32 ;in the plate 22, the- .upper.surface of which is substantiallytangential to the roller;3I. Freely slida-ble through .gravitywithin the'channelsnf each of the-postsZfi, 26, upwardly of the bearing blocks 2],- 2'I, are second bearing blocks 33,133, respecj tively; which support the ends of'a shaft 34:ex=- tendin-gtransversely therebetween in. parallel relationto the shaft 28. Securedupon .the'said shaft34 is a hold-down roll 35. Drilled in the upper face of each of the bearing blocks .33, 33", isanupwardly opening recess 36. forreceiving the-slower end-.ofacompression. spring 37, the upper" end of which. bears against a .fiangedcap 38;v maintained in position by an. adjustment screw-39, which projects downwardly through a suitableaperture in each' closure plate 25, and istprovided' with'an enlarged knurled head. Engaging the-'shank'of each screw 39 beneath the head 40: is a lock nut' II to permit securement of the screw 3b in desired positionto cause the springs 31 to'resist'undue upward movement of thebearing'blocksfi, 33, after same have been raised by passage of the strip stock C beneaththe hold-down roll 35 and thereby assure adequate downwardly directed guiding pressure on:sai=d strip C" as-it progresses along the conveyor plate 22.

The-endposts'2 l, 24', similarly support upper and: lower shafts-.42, 42", respectively, for engagem-entthereon: of opposed feed rollers, 43', respectively; which are identical with the feed roll 3 I. Said end posts 24, 24', are each provided with knurled head adjustment screws M in association with compression springs (not shown) for spring load-ingthe upper shaft 42 in' like manner as the posts 26, 2.6-. The lowershaft 42Pprojects out:

wardly beyond the rear face of the post 24' and has mounted thereon a pair of spaced sprocket wheels 55, 56.

Mounted on the upper plate I of the frame section D intermediate the posts 26, 25, and the uprights 23, 23, is the base 4'! of a skiving machine F having to the rear thereof an integrally formed arm. .48 projecting upwardly beyond the plate 22 and being bored to provide apair of vertically spaced bearings 45, 55. Journaled in the upper bearing 39 and projecting at its ends therethrough is a relatively short shaft 5| having keyed upon its forwardly projecting end a peripherally serrated feed roll 52 and disposed on its rearwardly projecting end is a pinion 53 meshingly engaged with a gear 54 secured upon a relatively long shaft 55 supported for rotation in, and projecting through, the bearing 50. Mounted upon the forward projecting end of said shaft 55 is a serrated feed roll 55 for co-operation with the feed roll 52 for gripping the strip of material C by its rearwardly presented longitudinal margin topull same therebetween for cutting a bevel upon its under face by a blade 51 adjustably mounted upon the skiving machineF for setting at the desired angle to the horizontal. With reference to Figures 2 and 7, it will be seen that the conveyor plate 22 is provided with a suitable recess 58 in its rearward margin to permit the feed rolls 52, 55, and the blade 57 to be positioned within the path of the strip C as it is moved along said conveyor plate 22. Coveringly disposed over the upper portion of the feed roll 52 is a partial housing member 52'.

lhe rearward end of the shaft 55 is journaled in a bearing 55 mounted on a frame section 60 which is secured at its lower end to the plate 1; Intermediate the bearing 59 and the gear 54 there is engaged upon the shaft 55 an enlarged sprocket wheel SI and a smaller sprocket wheel 62. Trained about the sprocket wheel 5| is an endless drive chain 63 which extends downwardly and laterally and is engaged at its lower end about a sprocket wheel 53' keyed upon a shaft 54 supported by, and journaled in, a pair of spaced bearings 55, E5, bolted to the upper face of the plate I. Also engaged upon the shaft 64 is a sprocket wheel 5'? about which is engaged the lower endof the chain 15. The rearward end of the shafted has engaged thereon a pulley 6S protruding through a suitable aperture 69 in the plate i and having disposed thereabout one end of a V -belt Til engaging on its lower end a pulley H of reduced diameter mounted upon the end of a drive shaft 52 of a variable speed prime mover l3, conveniently positioned upon the plate 5 of the frame section D. The pairs of sprocket wheels 62, 35, and 28, 45, are drivingly connected by chains E5, 15, respectively (see Figure 2). Thus, upon actuation of the motor 13, rotation is imparted to the shaft i i of the cutter E and the shaft 55 of the skiving machine F with consequent rotation of the respective co-operating shafts it, St, through the gears I3, 54, and the'pinions I2, 53, respectively. By rotation of the shaft 55, drive is transmitted by the sprocket chain it, '15. to the rollers 3|, 4-3, respectively. It is to be pointed out that the sprocket wheels'52, 35, 29, d5, 46, are of the same size so that the shafts associated therewith will be rotated at a uniform rate.

Connected to the rearward margin of the conveyor plate 22 and extending therealong, substantially throughout its length, is an angle section :6 so disposed as to present its horizontal portion 1'! in elevated relation to the conveyor plate 22 and being removed therefrom atdlstance slightly in excess of the thickness of the stock normally utilized in the machine A. Parallel to, and spaced forwardly from, the angle section T6 in guideway-forming relationship therewith is an angle section 18 terminating at one end spacedly from the cutter E and being secured, as by welding, on the upper surface of its horizontal portion, at intervals to channel brackets 19. fransversely extending through the channels of the brackets 79 are guide bars which are rigidly attached at one of their ends to the upper face of the horizontal portion 17 of the angle section 16 and are downwardly bent at their opposite ends for securement to the support strip 22'. Tapped in each bracket 19 is a threaded aperture is opening at its lower end into the channel thereof for receiving a knurled head set screw 85 which abuts against the guide bar 85 for adjustably maintaining the angle section 18 in desired spacial relationship to the section 16. Thus, by loosening the set screws 8|, the angle section 78 may be moved forwardly or rearwardly by sliding of the brackets i9 along the guide rods 89 for forming a pathway with the section 78 of desired width for accommodating relatively snugly the particular strip of board stock C being used.

Positioned at the end of the central frame section D opposite to that adjacent the feeding table B is a punch press G having an electric motor 82 for rotation of a fly wheel 83 to effect reciprocal up and down movement of a ram 84 supporting on its lower end face a die 35 suitably formed for simultaneous punching of two shanks, in immediate side-by-side relationship, from the strip stock C presented upon a bed plate 85. The bed plate 85 is aligned surfacewise with the conveyor plate 22 having one of its lateral margins immediately adjacent the roller 42'. On the opposite lateral end of the bed plate 85 there is disposed a pair of channel shaped posts 87, 8?, in all respects similar to the posts 25, 24', being suitably provided with means (not shown) for journaling upper and lower shafts 58, 89, for supporting opposed feed rollers 95, 9!, respectively, which are in parallel relation to the rollers 42, 52. The shaft 89 projects outwardly beyond the rearward post 8? for supporting a sprocket wheel 92 about which is trained a chain 93 having its opposite end engaged about the sprocket wheel 45 whereby rotation will be imparted to the roller 9! upon actuation of the prime mover 13. Said sprocket wheel 52 is of the same size as the sprocket wheel 55 so that uniform speed is maintained throughout the work advancing means of the machine A.

Mounted on the bed plate 55 is an adjustable gage 54 for regulating the path through which the strip C is moved acrossthe said plate 86 so that conformity to the width of the passage created by the angle sections 76, i8, is obtained. The motor 82 of the punch press G is preferably connected to the same main switch. (not shown) as the prime mover 13 so that'upon operation of said switch the motors i3, 82, will be simultaneously actuated. Finally, there is provided an additional means for guiding the strips C along the machine A, which comprises a strip of flat, relatively resilientmetal stock 95 affixed at one end to the upper transverse portion of the frame 8 of the cutter unit E with its opposite end resting freely upon the conveyor plate 22 between the angle sections 76, 1B, adjathe'. requisite beveled margin.

1 cent .to: thee. skivingcmachinel i It will. thus be seenthatthe strip C willmoveunder thefree end-of the metallic: strip 95, which will be engaged thereon for creating a downward pressure onthe strip C.

In. operation, the rotary cutters IS, IT, are adjusted with relation tothe' rearward lateral wall of the frame 8 for the particular length of shanks to be formed and the angle sections l6, 18, are appropriately disposed to provide a path in'conformance with the cutter adjustment. The gage-94' on the bed plate 86' of the press G is likewise correspondingly adjusted. After actuation ofthe' prime mover l3 and the motor 82 of the punch press G a sheet of board stock C is placed upon the top 2 of the feeding table B with one margin thereof abutting against the flange 3 for assuring properdisposition of said sheet C whichis thenzfed through the cutterE for severance: of a strip C of the' predetermined width. Theexcess portion of the sheet is manually removed through the opening 9. As the strip C progresses along the conveyor plate 22 during; the strip forming operation, it will move within the guideway created by the angle sections 76-; E8,- and be gripped by the serrated feed rollers'52, 58, of the skiving machine F and fed to the blade 5? which will cut a bevel, designated generally 95, along the under face of the rearward longitudinal margin thereof. It will be seen that the feed rollers 52, 58, serve, in effect. a dual purpose, namely, that of feeding the strip C to the blade 51, as well as advancing the said strip C along the conveyor plate 22.

Particular to note is the fact that the horizontally disposed portions of the angle sections 16-, 18, provide a flattening effect upon any upward bulgings or other surface irregularities'in the strips C to expedite the advance of the strip with various parts of the machine A and to assure that the most economical utilization will be made thereof. As the strip 0' is thus moved through and past the skiving machine F, it will be advanced by the feed rollers 29, 42, the hold-down roller 35 serves primarily to ride along the upper surface of the now beveled strip C to maintain same in contact with the feed rol1er.29. The roller A2 acts in conjunction with the roller 42' for feeding the beveled strip to the bed plate 86 of the press G. Each downward'stroke of the said press G'will cause two shanks S to be punched from the strip C which shanks S will bein completed form and ready for utilization; since they have been previously provided with The punched strips Cwill be pulled through the press G by the rollers 90, SI, for eventual collection of :the formed shanks S.

It is to be especially observed that, since a punch press G operates at a predetermined number' of strokes per minute, the strip C must be advanced at a rate for presenting for each downward stroke of the press an uncut area of requisite dimension for two shanks with a' minimum interval between the immediately previously punched portion. It is, therefore, most important that the speed of the prime mover 73 be so timed and regulated as to cause the strip conveying means, namely, the skiving feed. rollers 52, 58, and the feed rollers 29, 42, 89, to advance the strip 0 at such an appropriate rate relative to the speed of operation of the press G in order to permit the dieing out of the maximum number of shanks S from eachstrip C.

without untoward obstructive engagement --f It is, of": course, apparent" that the machine A may be utilized to a'ccommodate-shanksof any normal length, since the cutters l6, l1, maybe adjusted commensurately with corresponding regulationof the guideway formin'g" means; It has'been .foundthrough usage that the machine Awill produce'an estimatedfifty thousandpair s of shanks during the accepted working period, which isabout five times the number'that can be produced by the use of a clicking'machine with subsequent skiving of the individual shank blanks during a like period. Furthermore, despitethismarked increase in productive capacity, the machine A merely requires the services of generally unskilled workers for feeding board stock 0 thereto and for collecting the formed shanksS. Therefore, by the operation of the machine Athe cost per shank S is considerably lower than shanks produced by any method now currently practiced.

As stated hereinabove, the machine A thus described provides a most expedient means for performing. the method .of this invention but its utilization is not obligatory since other means may be used. Therefore; strips could be severed from superimposed stock and then individually fedto a skiving machine with the bevel strips being presented to a cutting'machine having cooperative knives for cutting shanks therein. It is evident that the machine A provides preferable but not exclusivev means for practicing the method described.-

It shouldbe understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrange-- ment, and. combination of .the' several parts of the apparatus for: forming shoeshanks and in the steps of its production may be-made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from thenature and principle of the present invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for forming shoe shanks comprising, adjustable cutting means for severing a strip of leather-simulative stock into strips of desired widths approximating the length of the shanks to be formed therefrom, a sheet-feeding table associated'with said cutting means, a platelike member secured to said table for depressing. any upward bulgings in the sheet, an adjustable skivingunit for cuttingfa bevel of de' sired angularity' alongone longitudinal margin of the strips. being cut-by thecutting means, stamping means for stamping shanks from the beveledstrips so that theforward portions of the-shanks thus formed will coincide with the beveled portion of the strips thereby resulting in a finished shank, conveyor means for advancing the strips from the cutting means to the. skiving unit and thence to the stamping means, and driving means for simultaneous actuation of the cutting means, skiving unit, stamping means, and conveyor means and adapted for presenting said strips to the stamping means in predetermined timed relationship tothe operation thereof for stamping a maximum number of shanks from each strip.

2. Apparatus. for forming shoe shanks comprising adjustable cutting means for severingia strip of leather-simulative stock into strips having widths approximating the length of shanks to be formed therefrom, a conveyor plate, adjustable means associated with said conveyor plate for forming a path therealong. in conformity with the width of. the strip cut by the cutting means, strip advancing means provided in said conveyor plate, a skiving unit disposed in the path of the strip advanced along the conveyor plate for cutting a bevel in one longitudinal margin thereof, stamping means for stamping shanks from the beveled strips presented to said stamping means by the strip advancing means, and driving means for actuating said stamping means and said strip advancing means in predetermined timed relationship so that the maximum number of shanks may be stamped from the beveled strips.

3. Apparatus for forming shoe shanks comprising an adjustable cutter for severing a sheet of leather-simulative stock into strips having widths approximating the length of shanks to be formed therefrom, a feeding table associated with said cutter for facilitating the feeding of a sheet of stock thereto, a plate secured to said table and in elevated relationship to the upper surface thereof for depressing any upward bulgings or like surface irregularities in the sheet for facilitating the movement thereof through the cutter, an elongated conveyor plate for receiving on its upper surface the strip cut from the sheet stock by the cutter, means associated with said conveyor plate for exerting a downward pressure upon the upper surface of the strip to maintain same in relatively snug relationship upon the upper surface of the conveyor plate, adjustable members associated with said conveyor plate for defining a path therealong conforming in width to that of the strips cut by the cutter, strip advancing means provided in said conveyor plate for moving the strips along the paths thus defined, a skiving unit disposed in the path of the strip for cutting a bevel along one longitudinal margin thereof, a punch press for stamping shanks from the strips presented thereto by the strip advancing means so that the shanks thus formed will coincide on their forward margin with the beveled portion of the strips, and driving means for actuating the cutter, the skiving unit, the strip advancing means, and the punch press in predetermined timed relationship so that the beveled strip is fed to permit the maximum number of shanks to be stamped therefrom.

1. Apparatus for forming shoe shanks comprising an adjustable cutter for severing a sheet of leather-simulative stock into strips having widths approximating the length of shanks to be formed therefrom, a feeding table associated with said cutter for facilitating the feeding of a sheet of stock thereto, a plate secured to said table and in elevated relationship to the upper surface thereof for depressing any upward bulgings or like surface irregularities in the sheet for facilitating the movement thereof through the cutter, an elongated conveyor plate for receiving on its upper surface the strip cut from the sheet stock by the cutter, means associated with said conveyor plate for exerting a downward pressure upon the upper surface of the strip to maintain same in relatively snug relationship upon the upper surface of the conveyor plate, adjustable members associated with said conveyor plate for defining a path therealong conforming in width to that of the strips cut by the cutter, roller members associated with said conveyor plate for advancing the strips along the paths thus defined, a skiving unit disposed in the path of the strip for cutting a bevel along one longitudinal margin thereof, a punch press for stamping shanks from the strips presented thereto by the said roller members so that the shanks thus formed will concide on their forward margin with the beveled portion of the strips, driving means for actuating the cutter, the skiving unit, the strip advancing rollers, and the punch press in predetermined timed relationship so that the beveled strip is fed to permit the'maximum number of shanks to be stamped therefrom, and means provided with saidpunch press and driven'by the driving means for removing stamped strips from the press.

5. Apparatus for formingshoe shanks comprising adjustable cutting means for severing a strip of leather-simultative stock into strips of desired widths approximating the length of the shanks to be formed therefrom, a sheet-feeding table associated with said cutting means, sheet depressive means associated with said table for depressing any upward bulgings in the sheet, a skiving unit for cutting a bevel of desired angularity along one longitudinal margin of the strips being cut by the cutting means, stamping means for cutting shanks from the beveled strips so that the forward portions of the shanks thus formed will coincide with the beveled portion of the strips iereby resulting in a finished shank, conveyor means for advancing the strips from the cutting means to the skiving unit and thence to the stamping means, and driving means for simultaneous actuation of the cutting means, skiving unit, stamping means, and conveyor means and adapted for presenting said strips to the stamping means in predetermined timed relationship to the operation thereof for stamping a maximum number of shanks from each strip.

6. Apparatus for forming shoe shanks comprising cutting means for severing a strip of leathersimulative stock into strips having widths approximating the length of shanks to be formed therefrom, a conveyor plate, path defining means associated with said conveyor plate for the strip cut by the cutting means, strip advancing means provided in said conveyor plate, a skiving unit disposed in the path of the strip advanced along the conveyor plate for cutting a bevel. in one longitudinal margin thereof, stamping means for cutting shanks from the beveled strips presented to said stamping means by the strip advancing means, and driving means for actuating said. stamping means and said strip advancing means in predetermined timed relationship so that the maximum number of shanks may be cut from the beveled strips.

'7. Apparatus for forming shoe shanks comprising an adjustable cutter for severing a sheet of leather-simulative stock into strips having widths approximating the length of shanks to be formed therefrom, a feeding table associated with said cutter for facilitating the feeding of a sheet of stock thereto, sheet depressive means associated with said table for depressing any upward bulgings or like surface irregularities in the sheet for facilitating the movement thereof through the cutter, a conveyor plate for receiving the strip cut from the sheet stock by the cutter, means associated with said conveyor plate for exerting a downward pressure upon the upper surface of the strip to maintain same firmly upon the conveyor plate, path defining means associated with said conveyor plate for the strip cut by the cutter, strip advancing means provided in said conveyor plate for moving the strips therealong, a skiving unit disposed in the path of the strip for cutting a bevel along one longitudinal margin thereof, stamping means for cutting shanks from li fe eeee 9i s ,..i. the i filev 9 ibis-efleet UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 140,569 2 406 21 zilfifixl l 2 ,195,497 2 29 613 2 59%4 83 

